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Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoAndy Wallace | WBNS-10TVBrad Sheets, left, of AAA Ohio Auto Club, hoists a member’s vehicle onto the back of his wrecker. Sheets said to watch out for tow-truck drivers who show up without being called and overcharge.

What’s worse than breaking down, getting stuck or having a collision on a roadway buffeted by
snow, ice and howling wind?

Suffering one of those mishaps — and
then getting snowed by an unscrupulous tow-truck operator.

“Dishonest towing operators, also known as bandit tow trucks, that materialize just when you
need them prey on unsuspecting drivers in need,” warns Esurance, a direct-to-consumer subsidiary of
insurance giant Allstate.

“They offer to help — and then charge exorbitant fees for their services.”

Some will demand cash. Other will accept credit-card payments, only to tack on unexpected — and,
in many cases, unauthorized — fees.

Brad Sheets, a fleet supervisor for AAA Ohio Auto Club, said bandit tow-truck operators are
particularly active this time of year, when, in the heat — er, cold — of the moment, even the most
cautious consumers can become easy targets.

It’s that relief, he said, that makes people much more susceptible to pitches such as “Hey, I’ll
move you out of here right now for, you know,

50 bucks.”

“I’ve got a problem with that,” Sheets said.

Tow-truck drivers employed by AAA or other reputable roadside-assistance services must adhere to
strict guidelines, he said.

“I don’t solicit. I don’t prowl. I don’t stop just randomly to try to take advantage.”

Esurance and consumer watchdogs such as Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau point out
that the best time for motorists to come up with a winter safety strategy is
before the snow flies.

Consider signing up for an auto club or roadside-assistance service that offers towing, they
say.

If that’s not an option, identify one or two local tow-truck operators whom you’d feel
comfortable calling in an emergency. Keep their names and phone numbers in your wallet or glove
box, or add them to your cellphone’s contact list.

Moreover, make sure you know what your insurance policy covers. Does it, for example, include
roadside assistance and/or towing services, and, if so, what limitations apply?

The bottom line: “If you do need a towing service, don’t deal with a towing operator who arrives
on the scene unsolicited,” Esurance says. “Though honest, hardworking towing companies can
miraculously appear when you need them most, it’s wise to err on the side of caution.”

Other suggestions:

• Be especially wary of would-be rescuers in unmarked trucks, and make sure that any signs or
markings that appear on a truck match the documentation provided by its driver.

• If your car sustained damage that makes it undrivable, don’t allow the vehicle to be towed by
an operator who wasn’t summoned by you or law-enforcement personnel.

• Similarly, if your car can’t be driven, try to have it towed to your home or a repair shop of
your choosing. Tow-truck operators have been known to take vehicles to an impounding lot, resulting
in hefty — and entirely avoidable — storage fees.

• Any time your car is going to be towed, make sure you first receive printed documentation of
where the vehicle will be taken and what fees will be charged.

• If you’re asked to sign an invoice, do so right below the quoted price — not at the bottom of
the document. Some tow-truck drivers will encourage car owners to sign an agreement that lacks a
final charge and then “backfill” the invoice with miscellaneous fees.

• Watch out for fair-weather pricing. You shouldn’t have to pay a surcharge just because it’s
unusually cold or snowy. (If, however, freeing your car legitimately requires extra time and effort
because of its location or the conditions, you should expect the cost to rise.)

• Finally, don’t give out any personal information, and be stingy with details of your insurance
coverage. Scammers could use such information to engage in other fraudulent activity.